Disclaimer: I don't own Bones

Because Valentine's Day happens this month… how could I not write about the most romantic, solid, lovable couple in tv-land? How could my first story in this series not feature them?

Set between… I shan't say, I think you'll know by the end of the story.

Friends and Lovers

As Brennan stood in front of the mirror applying light make-up to her face, she couldn't help but reflect on her life to date. When she had first met FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth, she had been instantly attracted to his handsome features. His broad acromia stood out, tapering down to a slim waist, as if screaming out "I'm in great shape", which in her mind translated to what was very likely amazing stamina in bed.

She had remembered admitting that to Angela when they had worked their first case together.

Well, I do respond to the breadth of his shoulders and the strong jawline.

She remembered that they both had wanted to sleep with each other but on hindsight was glad that she had decided against it at the very last minute. Their first kiss was more than good, so pleasurable that she wanted to rip his clothes off right there outside the pool hall. But her head had always prevailed over her heart and even way back then, when she didn't yet believe in love, she decided that she didn't want her first time with the handsome FBI Agent to be clouded in a drunken haze.

We are not spending the night together.

Of course we aren't.

Why?

Tequila.

So you're afraid that when I look at you in the morning, I'll have regrets?

That would never happen.

She smiled, knowing for sure that Booth indeed didn't have any regrets now when he woke up next to her in the mornings. Her thoughts travelled back to their first case together. For reasons she could not fathom, what looked like a burgeoning relationship went south and she had slapped him. She had vowed never to work together with him again. But Booth being Booth somehow got them to become partners in work again.

She remembered their early days together in the partnership. She had an impeccable memory and she could not remember anyone who gave of himself as selflessly to another human being as Booth. He had taken it upon himself to also ensure her well-being even at his own expense. She remembered how he had left the hospital shortly after getting blown up and saved her from being killed by Agent Kenton. She had been immensely grateful to him and remembered how he had continued saving her life on so many other occasions. He had flown in all the way from DC to New Orleans when she had been assaulted and lost her memory. Partners didn't do that, she understood that now.

She had been reluctant to work with him at first but with time he opened up to her. She had learnt about his cosmic balance sheet and wanted to help him balance it. She remembered that day at Arlington when he told her about the Serbian General he had killed in front of his son. His raw emotion told her about the burden he carried every time he had to end a life.

As Brennan put on a pair of earrings, she glanced over at the tub in the bathroom. She couldn't help but smile remembering how she had burst in on him in the tub. She remembered the bullet from Pam Nunen that he had taken for her. She had seen much death in her work but Booth's fake death had affected her to an extent that scared her. His brain tumor had scared her too. When he couldn't wake up from the anesthesia, she was once again faced with the possibility of losing him. Her relief when he woke up was soon replaced by anxiety. He had kept insisting they were married. The thought of committing to him scared her. Scared her so much, she had to leave.

She thought about family and how she didn't really have one, how her had parents and brother had abandoned her. Booth had been there for her when Max came into her life again and left. Had been there to try to help her mend that relationship with her father. He had become her family, without her even realising it.

You know, I'm just, I'm just one of those people who doesn't get to be in a family.

Listen, Bones. Hey, there's more than one kind of family.

Booth had always seen her for who she was. She didn't have to pretend to be someone else with him. She now knew that he loved her for her intellect as much as for how she looked.

I liked Smurfette, that's Brainy Smurf.

Smurfette was stupid, shallow Smurf who only had her looks. Look, you're better than Smurfette. You have your looks and a whole lot more.

As Brennan turned her attention back to her reflection in the mirror, she ran her hair brush through her long dark hair, trying to decide if she should wear it up for the occasion. She knew she was attractive, many men had told her that before. She wondered why she had never stopped to consider if Booth was attracted to her while they were still partners. Thinking back he had dropped her hints but her oblivious self did not catch it. She remembered his attempt at flirting with her while they were on a plane to China. Thinking about it now, she couldn't help but chuckle.

What I want you to do is take off your glasses, shake out your hair, and say "Mr. Booth, do you know what the penalty is for an overdue book?"

Why?

The memory helped her decide how she should wear her hair that evening. She glanced at the watch. Booth would be arriving soon.

Still in a pensive mood, Brennan reflected that their initial partnership, with the sole purpose of solving crime, bringing criminals to justice and balancing Booth's cosmic balance sheet had slowly evolved into a deep friendship, marked by mutual respect and genuine concern for each other. Somehow as time passed, she knew that friendship grew into love. If she were asked to pinpoint a time when she thought she fell in love with Booth, she couldn't. But she knew when she realized she loved him. That memory brought an ache to her heart. Their relationship was not only filled with good times but she knew it had also brought them both pain.

Turning him down that night outside the Hoover was one of the hardest things she had to do.

I believe in giving this a chance. Look, I wanna give this a shot.

You mean us?

.

.

I am not a gambler. I'm a scientist. I can't change. I don't know how.

And then he had come home from Afghanistan with Hannah. She had spent her time in Maluku contemplating perhaps that chance with Booth. Seeing him with another woman whom he seemed so happy with, made her regret her decision to turn him down. Her epiphany and admission of her feelings to him in his car that rainy night hurt. It had felt like a metaphorical knife to her heart and she never wanted to experience it again.

I got the signal, Booth. I don't want to have any regrets.

I'm with someone Bones. And Hannah, she's not a consolation prize. I love her. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but those are the facts.

I understand. I missed my chance.

She had been so certain she had missed her chance. Their relationship morphed yet again into one where she had to learn how to be friends with Booth but share him with another woman. Just as she had adjusted and admitted to herself that she was to spend the rest of her life alone, a twist she could not have envisioned occurred. Their relationship changed yet again. It had grew through the years from a partnership, two people working toward a common goal, to one of friendship, to deep respect, to something almost akin to family to lovers and to now. Her hand came to rest on her still flat abdomen. They were now a family in every sense of the word. At the thought of his love for her and their unborn child, she smiled. The sound of the doorbell heralded the arrival of the man who had so occupied her thoughts as she had prepared for the evening. She glanced at herself in the mirror again. She heard the doorbell again, characteristic of his impatience. Satisfied with how she looked, she hurried to answer the door.


Booth had spent the drive over to her apartment thinking about his relationship with Brennan through the years. How they had come to this very moment. Just a year ago, while he was still getting over his failed relationship with Hannah, Brennan had surprised him. She had taken him to the shooting range.

Just open it.

I always wanted to fire one of these.

You told me Valentine's was all about the Valentine's Day Massacre for you, so I thought this is a good idea? I got them from the Roaring Twenties exhibit.

Her Valentine's Day gift to him a year ago had touched him more than he could have anticipated. He had thought his chance with her was over after the whole thing with Hannah and how he had turned her down that night in his car. Her tears and her admission had tore his heart to shreds. He could not understand how and why he had to turn her down but that night it had made sense for him to do so. Brennan had always been his everything. He remembered the first time they met. It was love at first sight. She was so beautiful his jaw had dropped, mesmerized by her beauty. His awe-struck brain could only come up with that cheesy pick-up line.

Do you believe in fate?

Absolutely not.

She had shown interest in him through the course of their first case together but things didn't quite work out as he had planned. Now, he was glad that they never actually slept together that night after kissing outside the pool hall. She could never be a one-night stand. He had always been fiercely loyal, Pops and the Army had taught him that. It was a belief he had brought with him into the FBI. He never liked partnering up but with her, their solve rate was phenomenal. He needed her help even though she irritated him.

She had become his partner and it was his job to look out for her. At first it was just that, one partner looking out for another. But as time went by and the their solve rate continued to grow, he started seeing her in a different light. Dr Temperance Brennan was not the cold, heartless person so many had believed her to be. She was not only beautiful and smart, she had a good heart too. Something he had been privileged to witness for himself. She had also showed another side of her to him. A vulnerable side. A side he only wanted to protect. He couldn't pinpoint when but he had fallen for her. Back then he would never admit it, but he had always hoped his guys hugs could be something more.

I wish you wouldn't keep letting me hug you when I get scared.

Hey, when I get scared, I'll hug you.

She cared for him back then, that he was certain. But he never wanted to jeopardize their friendship. She had always made it so clear to him that she didn't share the same beliefs as he did when it came to love and marriage. He hated talking about his old man but their friendship had grew to a point where he could reveal to her that he had an abusive alcoholic father. She had risked her life to save him from Heather Taffet, that was something he would never forget.

When he found out that she had been abused in foster care he resolved to never let anyone hurt her ever again. She was beautify and exquisite and she deserved only to be happy. Her smiles had become addictive to him and he endeavored to make her smile more, just so he could see them, just so he could know that he was the one who put them there. Back then he kept those secret thoughts to himself, but his coma dream made him see what they could have. When he woke up, he knew without a doubt that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

He knew she wasn't ready but he hoped someday she would be. That night outside the Hoover was his downfall. Encouraged by Sweets he had rushed her into something he now knew she wasn't ready for.

Just hear me out, all right? When you talk to older couples who, you know, have been in love for 30 or 40 or 50 years, alright it's always the guy who says, "I knew". I knew, right from the beginning.

He had always known and he still did. They would hit that 50 years, he was certain of it. But that night it didn't seem so. That night she had broke his heart and he experienced a pain he never had experienced before. Not even after his torture at the hands of the enemy, the beatings his father melting down on him. That night, those hurts seemed nothing compared to the words she had uttered to him.

She had run to Maluku and he knew he could not remain in DC. In Afghanistan, he thought that he had managed to move on with Hannah. He had honestly thought he loved Hannah, until he came back home. Until he saw Brennan again. He knew then he was doomed. It was her, it had always been her.

His relationship with Hannah had ended but she had stood by him, despite how he had treated her. He had not expected her to.

You stay here and you have a drink with me. Alright? Maybe, we have a little small talk, chitchat.

And if you're not, well you can leave. There's the door. And, tomorrow I'll find you a new FBI guy.

Those are my only choices?

Yeah. Those are your only choices.

Then I'll have a drink.

That night after freeing themselves from the stuck elevator in his apartment and after the case had been solved, she had talked about the possibility of a future together and it gave him hope. A hope he had once lost.

When you and I met, I was an impervious substance. Now I am a strong substance.

I think I know what you mean.

A time could come when you aren't angry anymore and I'm strong enough to risk losing the last of my imperviousness. Maybe then we could try to be together.

Vincent's death had pushed them into something they had been ready for but neither had dared to make the first move, for fear of losing that comfortable friendship. That night when she got into bed with him and they made love, it had been the point of no return. That night made all the heartache they had caused each other worth it. Their relationship had changed, from partners, to friends to lovers. When she had broken the news to him in the early hours of the morning, he was initially afraid he was still trapped in that coma dream. That dream he had once thought unattainable.

I'm pregnant. You're the father.

Those words would change their lives and their relationship forever. He smiled to himself, thinking of their baby growing inside her. Anxious that she had not yet answered the door, he rapped quickly on her door, wondering if she had heard the doorbell. The door opened. In her low cut blue dress and her hair up to reveal the creamy skin on the column of her neck, he was greeted with a vision of beauty. His jaw dropped like at their first meeting. Along with his jaw, the bouquet of daffodils that was in his hands fell to the floor.

"Hi." She greeted him almost shyly. She stepped back, motioning for him to enter.

Something inside him snapped and he stepped into her apartment, hands on her hips, pushing her back until her back hit the wall. His lips crushed hers and they enjoyed the pleasure of each other's tongue moving against theirs. After how long, both were unsure but she broke the kiss, out of breath.

"I take it you like what I'm wearing?" She said, inhaling to try to catch her breath.

Breathing equally hard he rasped, "Yeah. You look just… wow."

As if suddenly remembering his manners, he quickly stepped back, retrieving the fallen bouquet, handing it to her.

"Sorry," he smiled. "These are for you."

She loved that charm smile of his. She brushed her lips against his again, smoothing her hands along his firm pectorals. She felt him gently push her back.

"Bones, stop. We're never gonna make it out of your apartment if you keep that up."

"You promise me a lot of sex after dinner?"

"Promise." Booth chuckled. His hand moved to her abdomen. "You okay?"

"Yes."

"Baby okay?"

"Although at this early stage of my pregnancy there's no way for me know with absolute certainty, I'll assure you that the fetus is okay."

"Baby, our baby."

"Fine baby."

"Aww Bones… I never thought you'd call me baby."

Brennan gave him a look of annoyance, to which he laughed, attempting to kiss the look off her face.

"I thought you said we should stop."

"I couldn't help it. You just look so… ravishing."

"Thank you. You look very handsome yourself." Brennan replied as she moved to place the bouquet into a vase.

"C'mon, let's go before I change my mind."

"We could order take out."

"No Bones, it's our first Valentine's Day together, it's gotta be more than take out and sex."

"I don't see how a meal at a venue different from my apartment followed by sex differs greatly from what I suggested. But since you're sentimental, I'll go along with it."

"Look at that, Bones is compromising." Booth laughed. "And it's different because this is a fancy restaurant and you're a special lady who deserves a special meal on this special day."

Brennan smiled sweetly at him.

"One more kiss before we go."

The couple kissed briefly.

"Happy Valentine's Day. I love you Temperance."

"Booth I – " She paused, looking conflicted.

"It's okay. I know. We'll have many more days like this one for you to practice telling me you love me."

"I shouldn't confine telling you my feelings to just one day of the year. I have hesitated until now to articulate the words because I wanted to be sure that it was more than brain chemistry or my pregnancy hormones. I am now confident and can safely conclude that… I love you too Booth."

Booth thought his heart might burst. The love of his life who was carrying his child was declaring her love for him. He couldn't help but grin. He knew that their relationship had changed through the years and was confident it wouldn't anymore. They were now partners, lovers and more. It was more than he could ever have hoped for.

I'm sure you've figured out when this particular Valentine's Day is set in the B&B timeline. A longer chapter than my usual. Writing this chapter put a smile on my face. I hope it put a smile on yours too. I'll be back with more.